Collapsible display rack



Nov. 15, 1955 R. D. KoBs 2,723,766

coLLAPsIBLE DISPLAY RACK Filed Oct. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,/N f |I N j l|\\\ \\,.7/ \//|:1 N i :s :KW 11 "W: fggci my@ nl m n) N@ f l n'/ w L 9 I im IN V EN TOR.

Nov. 15, 1955 R D KCBS 2,723,766

coLLAPsIBLE DISPLAY RACK Filed oct. 28, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 2 @MMF@ Wwf/@MM United .States Patent O `King & lC0., Minneapolis, `Minn., a corporation of Minnesota applicmionocwber 2s, 1954, serial No. 465,175

s claims. (Crm1-12s) My invention relates to display racks and more par ticularly "to rac'ks for displaying for the purpose of sale a multiplicity of relatively llat cartons, packets, envelopes, and the like.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class 'above described, which is formed from aminimum o f pieces o f sheet material, is extremely light in weight and is relatively inexpensive to produce.

,A still further and highlyimportant object of my invention is the provision of a deviceof the class described, which may be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled, and when disassembled, may ubelstored or shipped in a minimum of space.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a view in front elevation, some parts being broken away and some parts shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in side elevation, as seen substantially from the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is an exploded fragmentary View in perspective illustrating a typical connection between the front and rear panels and the side forming panels.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates in its entirety a rear panel, the upper and lower sections 2 and 3 of which are hingedly secured together as at 4 on a horizontal axis whereby the two may be caused to overlie each other for purposes of storage, shipment, and the like. Rear panel 1 is preferably formed from sheet material and has its side edges bent inwardly as at 5 for reinforcement purposes. The upper edge of the upper section 2 is bent inwardly as at 6 and the lower edge of the lower section 3 is bent inwardly as indicated at 7 for similar purposes. Adjacent the inturned edges 5 the upper section 2 is provided with vertically extended slotrs 8, see particularly Fig.,6, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. A front panel 9, also preferably formed from relatively thin sheet metal stock, and of considerably less height than the rear panel 1, has its opposite side edges bent inwardly as at 10.for purposes of rigidity, and is likewise provided with a plurality of vertically spaced vertically extended slots 11, see particularly F ig. 4.

A pair of matching side forming panels 12, also preferably formed from sheet metal stock, have their opposite Vce "side Vedges lbent langularly inwardly as at 13, and 'then backwardly as at 14 to provide 4reinforcing channels .YI/5. Itwillbe noted that the lower end portions of the channels 1`5 have greater depth, compare Fig. 5 to Figs. 4 and .6, whereby to provide ledges 16, see Fig. 2. Ledges V16 are yprovided with upstanding tongues 17 for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. The upper portion of .the channels '15, and particularly the back-turned` portions 14, are provided with opposed hooks 18 which areadapted fo'r'locking reception within the elongated slots 8 and 11, respectively of the rear and front panels 1 and 9. Preferably, and as shown in Fig. l2, the deeper lower end portions o'f the reinforcing channels 15 provide dependinglegs 19 and haveA their normally open ends closed by channel irons 20, see Fig. 5, to impart even vgreater rigidity thereto. Alsopr'eferably, and as' shown, 'the leg portions 19 are provided `casters 2 1 to facilitate portability when in "an assembled form. Also preferably, and las shown, the side 'forming pane'1s'1'2 are made upof upper and lower Sec- .tions 22 and .23 respectively, which are hinged as at 24, for compac'tness during storage, transportation, and the like. It will be notedthat the upper fold edge portion .of 'the upper section 22 tapers upwardly and rearwardly as at l25 :from the lower front panel 9 to the higher rear panel 1. l

A generally rectangular bottom forming panel l26, preferably and as shown, A,particularly in Fig. 7, having downturned peripheral edges 27, has its fo'u'r corners resting one each upon the four ledges 16 provided by the enlarged bottom portions of the channels 15. To prevent lateral shifting of the bottom panel 26 upon the ledges 16, the tongues 17 project upwardly through relatively narrow slots 2S in the bottom panel 26.

As shown, particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, a supporting bar 29, preferably formed from channel iron and having a bottom portion 30 and upstanding side portions 31 and 32 respectively, extends between the upper end portions of the side forming panels 12 centrally of the front and rear panels 9 and 1 respectively, and parallel thereto. The opposite end portions of the bottom 30 of the channel are extended and bent downwardly to provide anchoring tongues 33 which are adapted to be received within upwardly opening recesses 34 in the inner opposed surfaces of the side forming panels 12. Preferably, and as shown, these upwardly opening recesses are formed by metal straps 35 riveted as at 36 to the upper sections 22 of the side forming panels 12, the intermediate portion of said straps 35 being bowed inwardly as at 37.

As shown in Figs. l and 2, the front panel 9 is formed to provide laterally and vertically spaced pairs of upwardly projecting anchoring teeth 38. Anchoring teeth 38 project through openings 39 on opposite sides of vertical display racks 4t), which are preferably formed from sheet metal suitably compartmented as at 41 and placed one above the other on the front panel 9. Obviously, upward and forward lifting movements imparted to the display racks 4t) disengage same from the anchoring teeth 38 for the purposes of storage, shipment, and the like. Detachable front and rear display racks 42 and 43 respectively are likewise formed from sheet metal to provide stepped compartments 44. The front display rack 42 has its front portion resting upon the upper edge of the front panel 9, as indicated at 45. The rear longitudinal edge of the front display rack 42 is bent downwardly to provide an anchoring tongue 46 which is received within the channel-shaped supporting bar 29. On the other hand, the rear display rack 43 has its rear end portion resting upon the inturned edge 6 of the rear panel 1 and has its forward edge resting upon the wall 32 of the channel 29 with a depending anchorng tongue 47 received within the channel 29. Thus both the front and rear display racks 42 and 43 are suitably anchored with respect to the panels 1, 9, and

12 but may be readily detached therefrom by imparting lifting movements thereto for the purposes of storage, shipment, and the like.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects and while I have illustrated a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to be specifically understood that same is capable of modification without departure from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, front and rear panels having vertically extended slots adjacent their opposite side edges, a pair of side-forming panels formed from sheet material and having their opposite side edge portions bent angularly to form opposed reinforcing channels, the lower end portions of said channels having greater depth than the upper portions of said channels and defining supporting ledges, the upper end portions of each of said channels dening opposed hooks adapted for locking reception within the slots in said front and rear channels, a generally rectangular bottom-forming panel the corners of which are received on said ledges, said front-forming panel having less height than the rear panel, a supporting bar extending in a direction parallel to said front and rear panels and having its opposite ends detachably secured to the central upper edge portions of said side-forming panels, detachable front and rear display racks extending between said side-forming panels, the former being supported at its front edge portion on the upper edge of said front panel and at its rear edge by said supporting bar, said rear display rack having its front edge resting on said supporting bar and its rear edge portion resting on the upper edge of said rear panel, a vertical display rack overlying said front panel, and means on said front panel for detachably securing the vertical display rack thereto.

2. The structure defined in claim l in which said lower portions of said channels provide supporting legs for said device.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said rear panel comprises upper and lower sections hingedly secured together, the vertically extended slots being formed on said upper section.

4. The structure defined in claim l in which said supporting bar is formed from a channel iron, the opposite ends of the bottom of said channel iron being extended and downturned to provide anchoring tongues, said anchoring tongues being received in upwardly opening recesses in the inner opposed surfaces of said side-forming panels.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 in which the adjacent edges of said front and rear display racks are provided with down-turned lips receivable in said supporting bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 704,341 Johnston July 8, 1902 1,823,302 Waters Sept. 15, 1931 2,251,814 Johns Aug. 5, 1941 2,263,837 Erickson Nov. 25, 1941 2,461,219 Lew Feb. 8, 1949 2,505,299 Muller Apr. 25, 1950 

